Will Irvine meet Great Park developers deadline?

The Orange County Great Park's private developer wants to start work this year on building pads, road construction and utility installation.

And developer FivePoint Communities, a Lennar Corp.-backed firm managing the project, says it hopes that the first homes will be built and occupied by 2013.

But before a shovelful of dirt can be turned, the city of Irvine first must review FivePoint's 10,000-page package of maps and plans, hold hearings and then stage a series of public votes regarding its approval.

It was unclear at the end of a news conference Monday whether the city can get all that done in time for construction to start this year.

FivePoint said in a press release it expected approval of its plans by late summer 2011. FivePoint co-owner and CEO Emile Haddad said in the news conference -- held to unveil its plans -- that it was important at least to have the approval process completed before the rainy season next fall so grading and infrastructure work can commense.

But city leaders were unable to commit to anything sooner than "before the end of the calendar year."

If that's the case, FivePoint might have to put off its hope of starting work this year.

Irvine's city manager and community development director declined to give a time when public hearings will be held.

"We'll know that schedule when we get to it," City Manager Sean Joyce said.

Before Monday's news conference, Councilman and former Mayor Larry Agran said that a submission this big normally takes a year just for staff to review it. Then hearings must follow before the planning commission votes.

That would be followed by city council hearings and two council votes before the plan can win final approval.

Agran said he hoped that the process can be expedited so the plans can be approved sometime before the end of the year.

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To see a detailed map of developer FivePoint Communities' plans and a photo slide show, CLICK HERE!

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